Lived experience perspectives of factors that influence mental health recovery in Singapore
A recent study in Singapore has looked at how people recover from mental health setbacks (Kuek, Raeburn, Chow, & Wand, 2022). There is much research in the country on understanding mental health and information on the ability to diagnose mental health issues. However, the road back to recovery is far less understood.
Self-esteem and Mental Health: The Foundation of the Psychologically Healthy Mind
In a previous blog, we introduced the concept of optimal performance, the alignment between ones lived reality and a sense of well-being. In response to the blog, many people asked whether the model advocated an elitist view of life, the idea that one can only be optimal if one reaches their
Boxing your way out of depression
This article tackles boxing and depression, in order to understand this interaction, we need to know more about depression before explaining how it interelates with boxing. Depression is the world’s most prominent non-communicable disease. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), depression is the leading cause of disability in the US and Canada, ahead of coronary heart disease, cancer and AIDS. Not surprisingly, mood disorders are a focal point for psychiatric work.
The Role of Boxing in Stress Relief
Boxing is a unique and effective way to relieve stress, combining physical exercise with a controlled outlet for emotional tension. This article will address the most frequently asked questions about the role of boxing in stress relief, exploring the mental and physical benefits of boxing for stress management.
What is optimisation?
At Spartans, we define optimisation as follows: when the external reality matches the individual's internal subjective experience and goals. The graph has two axes. Subjective well-being is how a person feels about themselves and their emotional, mental and physical well-being. The other axis is their external reality—their alignment between their hoped-for and experienced life. Optimisation, the goal Spartans has for its members, is when a positive emotional state matches a positive external reality. When the subjective experience and external reality are both positive, a person is on the road to optimisation
Trauma and boxing – An interesting pairing
Trauma can deeply impact a person’s mental well-being, often leading to anxiety, depression, and social withdrawal. While therapy and medical support remain central to recovery, growing research shows that exercise can play a powerful complementary role. Boxing, as a high-intensity and skill-based activity, helps redirect focus, release built-up stress, and rebuild a sense of control. In a supportive community environment, it can become a meaningful pathway toward healing and resilience.
Progression and Avoiding the Choke
References Beilock, S. (2010). Choke: What the secrets of the brain reveal about getting it right when you have to. Simon and Schuster. Csikszentmihalyi, M., & Csikzentmihaly, M. (1990). Flow: The psychology of optimal experience (Vol. 1990). New York: Harper & Row.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) or Business as Usual
When it comes to community responsibility, boxing gyms stand apart. CSR has long been embedded in boxing culture, particularly in grassroots gyms within working-class communities. These gyms have historically served as safe spaces for troubled youth and individuals facing hardship. Gym owners and coaches regularly donate time, resources, and personal support to help others. Many world-class boxers began their journeys in these environments, including Mike Tyson, Canelo Alvarez, and Tyson Fury. Trainers such as Cus D'Amato are remembered not only for producing champions, but for dedicating their lives to guiding and supporting people beyond the ring.
Studies you should know: The benefits of a psychologically rich life
A study by S. Oishi and E. Westgate on happiness, meaning, and a psychologically rich life, published in Psychological Review.
Studies you should know: Like most things in psychology, free time follows a similar idea
A study by M. Sharif, C. Mogilner, and H. Hershfield on time and subjective wellbeing, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.